FAMOUS MEN OF THE DAY.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 88, 13 April 1912, Page 10

FAMOUS MEN OF THE DAY.

(Copyright.)

The meeting of the Imperial Conference vas a thing to stir the imagination of all Britons. With the representatives of tho Home Government the visiting Premiers formed an Imperial Cabinet, the most remarkable political council the world has seen. Tho free and selfgoverning Dominions, great nations within the Empire, sent t-heir chosen Ministers to confer with those in the Mother Country upon matters vital to Imperial well-being.

A genius for conciliation is a valuable gift for those who have to act as intermediaries in industrial disputes. Mr. Lloyd George and Mr. Sydney Buxton both have it, and between them did a great deal to bring about a suspension of hostilities in the railway world last August. Mr. Buxton, as President of the Board of Trade, has intervened successfully in several di&pi^es, following the example set by Mr. Lloyd George when he held the office.

One of the most remarkable events in a year of industrial unrest was the general strike of railway men last August. The striko lasted only two days, and 5 work' was resumed 'on the announcement that a Royal Conimission of five members would be* appointed to. enquire into the workiug of the Conciliation > agreement of 1907. Sir David Harrel was the Chairman of the Commission, whose 1 report was not favourably received by the railway men generally,

Mr. William Mullin, who was President of the Trade Union Congress at Newcastle in September la6t,year, long ago made his mark as an influential leader of Labour. The Lancashire operatives owe him much, for he has given to their interests many yea-re of devoted service, While the cause of the workers hau his entire sympathy, he is a man of reasonable mind, and is willing to admit that there may be occasionally something of right on the other side.

If- first-hand knowledge is essential in a workers' organiser, Mi 1 . Ben Tillett, leader of the great London dock strike, is well qualified for the position. fie web sent to a brickyard at eight. Ho laboured on a, fishing smack, was apprenticed to a bootmaker, served in tho Navy, and then joined the Merchant Service. Ho afterwards set himself to improving the conditions of dock workers generally. In that task he has achieved many triumphs.

Have seen many schemes tried to break a bullock, _ striko (writes "Undulla" iv the Bulletin), but for effectiveness and expedition 1 confidently recommend tho firo-stick operation. Saw a Banunaland bullooky ut it tho other clay, when one of his ptagh refused to budge even when charged with being of illogitimui .'origin. Taking two fatioks, tho oonduotor began to nib them rabidly up and down cdoh feidoof tho iiuiuuil'b tail, mid kept the fi'iciiuu yoini; until presently tlio ha.ii' f-inyed and tho einrll 'of ynllect o.c overwhelmed Iho vicinity. In tour and ;i hull minute* thy I'rucuou* pylor dec-lured the strike oil', aiid the whuulfl of industry rolled uloug the un.veu teuur vi! their tut. ' "